PCC backs 999 Appreciation Day to say thank you to Bedfordshire PolicePublished 08/09/2017

Bedfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Kathryn Holloway, has called on the public to join her in showing their appreciation of officers and staff working in the emergency services in a day set aside to do just that.

This Saturday (9 September) marks the first ever national 999 Appreciation Day which will provide the chance for the public and those helped by emergency services to share their stories and appreciation. The idea for the day came about following the terror attacks in Manchester and London, as well as the Grenfell fire tragedy.

“The murder of PC Keith Palmer in the Westminster attack, the incredible bravery shown by officers who ran towards the terrorists in Borough Market while others ran away and the most recent event at Buckingham Palace, where police faced a man with a machete, have really driven home to the public the huge debt owed to police officers. The Appreciation Day for the 999 services is a fantastic opportunity to focus attention on this and for the public to have their say,” said Commissioner Holloway.

“After PC Palmer's murder, officers in the Metropolitan Police reported members of the public coming up to hug them. It is appalling that it takes an absolute tragedy to make us realise the extent to which the police and their blue light colleagues put their lives on the line to protect us all and I feel that an annual Appreciation Day is the very least that they deserve.

“In Bedfordshire, the public are very much aware of the difficulties facing a force where officers deal with more crimes per head than almost anywhere else in policing. They want to give the very best service to the public that they can even though this force faces one of the largest challenges in policing, with one of the thinnest blue lines on one of the lowest budgets,” added the PCC.

As part of this, Bedfordshire Police is inviting media to spend a shift with our response officers. This will be a chance for them to see at first-hand the different types of 999 calls the Force responds to and the work that officers do to fight crime and protect the public.

If you would like to take part in a ride-along, please visit the Force’s website to find out more or email customer.services@bedfordshire.pnn.police.uk.

The hashtag for the day is #999DayUK so the public are invited to join in and share it on social media.